Creamy Chocolate Hemp Smoothie for Two

One of the most popular questions I’ve received over the years is “How can I get my partner to eat healthier?” What I’ve come to realize is that for most people change has to happen from within. Whether it’s a personal struggle they go through or a light bulb moment they experience, many of us have to figure it out for ourselves. Plus, some people are naturally more resistant to change than others and if you push them, they repel in the opposite direction. I don’t believe in pressuring someone to eat a certain way and I don’t think that there is a one size fits all approach for everyone. Leading by example helps (and sharing great-tasting food!), but ultimately if someone is going to make any kind of change in their life it usually has to be internally motivated for it to stick. This has been especially true for my own dietary changes and the shifts I’ve seen in Eric too. I’ve been singing the praises of green smoothies to Eric for 6 years now, but it just took him one moment of internal motivation to get hooked. Go figure. Although in his defense, I think I scared him off with an utterly gross concoction I made for him years ago.

Earlier this year, Eric ditched his morning cereal in an effort to cut down the gluten and processed carbs in his diet as he was suffering from some major brain fog and wanted to experiment with his diet. He now drinks a huge green smoothie every morning and claims he is feeling better. His only problem, he says, is keeping his pants up because he dropped some weight in the process.

This year, we’ve been big fans of adding hulled hemp seeds into our smoothies for a natural protein, fibre, and omega-3 boost. One 3-tablespoon serving has an impressive 2.5 grams of omega-3 fatty acids, 10 grams of protein, and 3 grams of fibre. It also has oodles of manganese, magnesium, iron, zinc, B6 and more. You can find the huge bags of hulled hemp seed at Costco for a good price. Hemp seeds can be a bit bitter or grassy tasting, so it does take some experimenting to find the right ratio of ingredients in a smoothie (I’ve definitely made some bad ones). Luckily, hemp pairs with chocolate effortlessly so it’s a no-brainer.

I’ve been enjoying my hemp-filled Green Warrior Protein Smoothie for a few months now. When I’m too lazy to prep all the veggies I simply add a couple spoons of hemp seed into my classic green monster recipe. Does the trick! Not long after, I decided to make a chocolate-hemp spin-off. I wanted something that I could enjoy on a hot summer day that would satisfy a craving for something sweet, chocolaty, and cold – while still packing in tons of nutrition. I made this recipe in May and was planning on sharing it during our kitchen reno this August, but recipe development has been a bit slow for me the past couple weeks so I decided to pull it out of the draft folder early. Plus, I just didn’t feel right keeping it from you given how hot and humid the weather has been lately. This smoothie has been my saving grace and has kept me from buying expensive pints of vegan chocolate ice cream more often than not.

Another thing I like about this recipe is that it makes 3 1/2 cups worth. When I’m feeling especially generous, I call this recipe “for two”, but there are definitely times when I chug it back faster than anyone can even see me make it.

5 from 31 reviews

Creamy Chocolate Hemp Smoothie for Two

Cool down with this creamy, ice-cold, and luxurious chocolate hemp smoothie. Enjoy the boost of protein and omega-3's that the hemp seeds provide while indulging in a lightly sweet chocolaty treat. For a fun twist, try this recipe with homemade almond milk, Coffee Shop Worthy Hazelnut Milk, or even adding homemade coffee ice cubes. This recipe is inspired by my Cheerful Chocolate Smoothie from The Oh She Glows Cookbook.

Yield3 1/2 cups (2 servings)

Prep time5 Minutes

Cook time0 Minutes

Total time5 Minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups almond milk (see note)

2-3 pitted large Medjool dates, to taste (I use 2)

3 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder

3 tablespoons hulled hemp seed

1 large peeled and frozen banana

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

4 large ice cubes

Directions:

Add all ingredients into a high-speed blender and blend until super smooth.

Tips:

1) This recipe yields a fairly thin consistency. If you want a thicker shake-like texture, try reducing the milk to 1.5 cups instead of 2 cups or go wild and add a scoop of your favourite non-dairy ice cream. 2) If your dates are a bit firm or dry, soak them in water for 30-60 minutes before making this smoothie. You can also swap the dates for liquid sweetener if desired. Just reduce the almond milk a bit so it's not too thin.

Wow, this looks amazing. I am going to make it for my 2 kids and my husband this morning. I think we will all love it.
We are also fans of your green warrior protein smoothie. Nutritious and delicious.
Thank you, Angela.

Mmm is right!! I’ve kind of been doing something similar to this for a large part of the past few months. Something about cacao-nut butter-banana just does it to me! Might have to add the hemp in now thanks to this recipe ;)

Well, you know that I love that this serves two! I’ve been adding hemp seeds to almost everything these days. I love them on top of salads. I even love them on top of a reheated cobbler that needs a bit of crunch. I think this smoothie is my next hemp adventure!

Dayna you can get them almost anywhere in Toronto! Any heath food store like Noahs will carry them. Also most grocery stores have them (at a slightly higher price) like Loblaws. My trick is to get them at homesense in the food aisle! They sell the huge brand name bags for very cheap!

I’m excited to try this! I often make something similar for me to enjoy with my 3 year old (he loves “smoo-ty”). I recently purchased hemp seeds, but haven’t really liked the taste so far in a number of recipies. Maybe this will do the trick!

I giggled at the little caption on the last photo -too cute! I also get my hemp hearts at Costco! Best deal ever. Sharing healthy, delicious, chocolatey foods with the one you love is a great way to show your partner that you care about them :)

Wonderful! So, I give this two thumbs up….buuuut, I did change it up a bit. I was out of almond milk so I just added 2 Tbsp of raw almonds + 2 cups water. Also I had a big bowl of fresh cherries sitting right by my Vitamix, so I thought why not?! Chocolate Cherry hemp smoothie…yum, I added about 10 pitted cherries too and it was sooooooo amazing! And I did share :) boyfriend approved!! Thanks!

I’ll be adding this to my dessert rotation for sure! And I’ve been making your green warrior protein smoothie like 3 or 4 days a week since you posted it. It’s my all time fave smoothie, and it still comes out thick without a banana! Amazing! Not that I’m against bananas, but I already eat 2-3 a day anyway

Wow, i’ll be sure to try this! I agree that pushing someone actually scares them away. I have a tendency to speak of my own experiences with food in social circles without imposing my views on anyone, and it’s funny how many people around me suddenly decided to go veg. (Sometimes for a short time, sometimes lasting)

I have a quick question. I recently bought a huge bag of hemp protein powder and I found the taste to be bitter, especially when you swallow and I don’t mean the earthy/nutty taste of hemp. More like eating raw nigella seeds, if you know what I mean? I don’t have much experience with hemp so I’m not sure if I should toss it or use it. I can handle the bitterness but my concern is the possibilty of ingesting something that has gone rancid.

Thank you for the post! New to your blog and I love it :)
Quick question: can you freeze dates and just throw them in a smoothie when you need them? Or use them frozen in any other of your recipes that uses them? Or do you just always have some available in the fridge?
Thanks :)

Oh goodness, this looks amazing! I love adding a frozen banana in my smoothies for some sweetness!

I can totally relate to those that are trying to get their partner to eat healthier. When I lived by myself, I had a more disciplined diet and cut certain things out of my meals. Now that my husband and I live together there are certain things in my kitchen that I wouldn’t have bought on my own. You’re absolutely ride, eating healthy comes from within and you can’t force someone to do it.

I can definitely relate to the struggle of encouraging loved ones to eat healthy and exercise. Many of my family members eat a ton of meat and fast food and it makes me want to cry. I try to rub off on them but you’re right, they aren’t going to change unless they really want to.

I like the idea to sway them with delicious treats though! This smoothie looks like a great way to do that. Love the addition of hemp seeds too!

Ooh this good!! I made something quite similar just yesterday in fact – great minds and all that ;) I added hemp protein powder to mine, but I shall have to try your version with hemp seeds instead and compare! I love that bottle and straw combo – so cute!

Oh my God, this looks good. I’ve started replacing my morning Larabar with a smoothie and I have felt amazing so far :) Sometimes they’re pink (beets) and sometimes they’re green, but it’s been a good change and a great way to get more veggies in. I’ll have to try this one, though, when I’m looking for a sweet snack.

High five for Eric!! :) That’s awesome that he’s now having smoothies for breakfast, and with the delicious ones you make, I’m not surprised that he likes them more than cereal now. If you think about it, you are technically two – one Ange and one baby Ange, so I’d say that makes you fully entitled to the entire recipe! :)

So true that you can’t force diet changes on anyone! This smoothie looks awesome, I’ve been making a similar version with banana, cocoa powder, pea protein, and flax meal. It makes a delicious snack/dessert. I’ll have to look out for the hemp seeds next time I’m at Costco and see how they taste added into the mix.

I’ve been craving something cold and chocolate-y for most of the day, and then this recipe popped up. Thanks for that. I don’t have hemp seeds but did have most other ingredients, so now I’m set for my swimming class AND I got my chocolate fix.

I only had a very small frozen banana, so I added in a small ripe avocado. It worked perfectly!! I’ll bet you could just sub 2 avocados for the banana, and it would work just as well. You might want to add more ice though, to make it cold… It was delish!

I totally agree with you and it took some time for my hubby to get himself into drinking morning juices too!! This looks so good and I am sure he will love this as he loves chocolate milk! Thanks. Will be trying soon!

That looks delish! Do you think hemp protein powder will work as well as the seeds? The only thing I find is it turns my smoothies a murky green colour. Definitely got the chocolate milk craving going on now! I read that if you add a pinch of bicarbonate of soda to your date soaking water, it speeds up the softening process :-)

Mmmmmm! This was truly delicious! Made a double batch for all the family this morning – it was inhaled in seconds! Thank you for another great recipe post, lovely photos too. Am making your strawberry chia jam from your cookbook this afternoon. Jam on toast for breakfast tomorrow xxx

Is there an alternative to bananas? It’s the only thing I’m allergic to, and I make so many of your recipes but always have to avoid the ones with bananas.
Think avocado might work in this one?
Thanks for any tips- LOVE your work :-)
Jess

Soo good! I made it yesterday as soon as I got the update that you posted the recipe and shared it with my 2 young daughters. We all loved it! Today, I made it for myself after my morning workout! Love all your recipes! I’m addicted to your cookbook and my whole family loves whatever I make from it! Thank you! By the way, you are so cute pregnant and I’m excited that you are having a girl!

I apologize if you’ve answered this question in previous posts, but, where did you get those adorable bottles?! Was it at a store? It’s probably a silly question since I’m in the US, but I’ve been ITCHING to get my hands on some glass milk-style bottles for quite some time. I have yet to find any affordable ones of a decent size (with caps), though. How many ozs do your bottles hold?

Just made this exactly as written and it is amazing! I’m 37 weeks pregnant and it’s 90 degrees outside. Between this smoothie and watermelon, it’s going to pretty much be all I can get myself to eat while I wait for baby. No complaints here!

Is there a reason you’re not using and promoting the use of raw organic Cacoa powder instead of the dutch-processed stuff? From what I’ve seen, the raw stuff still actually has some nutrients in it. At any rate, that’s what I have in my pantry now, so will try it with the raw cacoa. Sounds yum. Maybe some strawberries too, hmmmm?

This is just what I needed to read right now – you are spot on. Healthy changes have to come from within. I know this from my own personal struggles with food and health!! Nevertheless, it is always hard seeing one you love suffer from health problems and wanting so badly to help them!

This hemp smoothie looks amazing and that nutritional profile is hard to beat! Can’t wait to try it!! Looks like a great way to beat a chocolate craving!

First time in my life that I have had chocolate for breakfast…..won’t be the last….
I didn’t have almond milk and dates were dry (not medjool) so I put 1/4 cup of raw almonds and 4 dates overnight to soak. I think when I drained them in the morning that all the sweetness of the dates when out with the water. Anyway then proceeded with the recipe (without ice) and added agave and a bit of unflavoured protein powder to taste. Like I said It won’t be the last time I have chocolate for breakfast………

My girlfriends and I share blogs we enjoy with each other. I’m glad I found your blog. I’m a big follower of “Smitten Kitchen” and “Cooking With Mr. C.” I will now send my friends your link. I’m a mother of 5 and have to keep things interesting. Bonnie L.

I am new to Oh She Glows, and am a little obsessed. This looks amazing but I HATE bananas. bleech!!! any suggestions on what I could substitute? maybe pumpkin puree? I don’t think frozen mango would work with the chocolate…

Thank you for a wonderful recipe, Angela! I followed your suggestions of reducing the almond milk to 1.5 cups and using 2 dates. I substituted 2 tablespoons of raw cacao powder for the Dutch-processed cocoa and left out the cinnamon. The result was the best no-guilt chocolate shake I have ever tasted — perfect for a hot summer afternoon!! I confess, there was no sharing in this house today!!

Just made this… it’s delicious! I didn’t have hemp seeds so I added a little ground flax seed. I’ve made similar smoothies before with banana and chocolate that were too heavy on the banana flavor. The cinnamon does the trick… it keeps it from being too “banana-y”. Yum!

I am a hemp fanatic! Love this recipe and will be making it for sure! I completely agree about getting people to eat healthier. It has to be their choice. Chris and I started changing our eating habits [dropping fast food, lessening meat consumption + processed foods] at the same time. I would say the only real difference is that he took awhile longer to drop meat [eats it about once every 2 months now], but he stopped eating it at home years ago and I made sure to never pressure him about it at all. He’s also hesitant with some of my hearty creations [buckwheat bakes] and sludgy smoothies, haha. I can understand that, though! I always feel so lucky that we eat about 98% the same way. He even started to like mushrooms lately. Win! ;)

I have to comment because I’ve made this about four times since you posted it and we love it. I never bother to freeze bananas because my husband doesn’t like his smoothies too cold anyway and it works great. We’ve used coffee ice cubes in it. Last night, it was too late for coffee so I threw in some dried cherries. OH MY! It was really delicious. Thanks so much.

Angela, congrats on your pregnancy and your very successful site and book. I just purchased two of them online can’t wait for them to come! I wanted to say that as a registered dietitian working in Oncology I find your blog to be amazingly helpful and a lot of the basis that I hope to share with people to eat cleaner and more wholesome food with a lot of color and a lot of fun. I look forward to your new posts every day. Take care best of luck to you.
Faron

This looks so amazing that I’m seriously considering making it for dessert tonight, because I don’t think I can wait until breakfast tomorrow morning! I love the creaminess that hemp seeds lend in smoothies, and this one looks extra creamy :)

Hi Angela!
You are doing amazingly well to keep coming up with posts while growing that little baby at the same time! I’m sure it’s a testament to the good food you make that you have such energy – and it’s such an important and beautiful gift you are giving your baby: the healthiest possible food right from the very beginning. Well done, mama! :)

I’m sorry if you’ve already answered this question, but I don’t where else to get a reliable answer – what is (if any) the difference between cocoa powder and cacao powder?

this looks amazing! you have the best recipes on the web, seriously! I just think you do the best job on your blog (and I’m still dying to get your cookbook…birthday is coming so I’m hopeful). Thanks for creating such delicious and healthy food!

I came across your blog earlier this year and I have been an avid reader ever since! Cooking/baking is one of my favourite hobbies and I picked up your book the day it came out and have been so pleased with the results of the recipes both in the book and here on your site. Your imagination and creativity with food is truly a gift and I am so thankful you share your wonderful creations with all of us!

Last night I made your homemade Twix Bars, and my boyfriend ate nearly half the pan by the time we went to bed. Whipped this smoothie up this morning and we both gobbled it up before we got out the door!

I am in a very similar work situation that you described you were once in and your blog gives me the inspiration that someday I can pursue my passions and not have to go through life simply ‘getting through the day’. I completely relate to your tendency to stick to familiarity and comfort vs risks and potentially letting people down and I often feel that is what is holding me back along with fear of failure and not being prepared enough to take the leap. But I believe life is meant to be enjoyed and your words have really resonated with me. Just wanted to say thank you from one Canadian girl to another! I hope you come to Calgary someday to do a book signing.

Hi Mac, Thank you so much for your sweet words! I’m so thrilled to hear how much you are enjoying the recipes. Your encouragement truly makes my work rewarding, so thanks for that!
I hope to meet you one day in the future – I travel to Calgary now and then to see family so it’s always a possibility I can arrange a signing!

I just made this and it is delicious! Yes, I have made some things that has made my guy a real skeptic to change! This I know he would like and the Hemp Protein Powder I used has 11 grams of raw protein and 14 grams of fiber!

Whoa, this looks yummy!! It is well mixed and you can’t see any other particles in the smoothie. Thank you for sharing this recipe. I wonder what brand of mixer did you use to be able to achieve this consistency?

This is so delicious Angela! Bravo to you for making something so healthy that is soooo tasty! (again) Even my teenage son (who thinks he hates anything “healthy”, not to mention vegan) slurped it down and loved it! I made it last night instead of a dessert. Am having it AGAIN today! :) Thank you!!!

Shut the front door! I just made this , tossed some cherries in as someone else suggested and I am now losing my mind. Let me just say pure deliciousness just passed my lips. Nice hustle lady! I am making your chocolate pudding later.

I make it with carob. Tasty. Ah, Vitamix. I have a love/hate relationship with mine. I’ve had it for a long time now and it drives me crazy. For things like shakes it is exceedingly wasteful – the way the container is made its hard to get it out even with a silicone spatula – I like my shakes on the thick side which makes it even worse – I could take a nap while waiting for it all to pour out – and it never does, it just hangs up on the sides.

I’ve been looking for a “shake only” blender and finally settled on the Ninja Pro. All I can say is I should have bought this long ago. It is 900watts and kicks butt. I can put a whole container of frozen fruit in there, a little almond milk and about 4 seconds later it is a sorbet, a couple seconds later, it is a smoothie. It is made like a tank and the containers are really thick. I have the Bullet and was reluctant to get the Ninja because I’ve not been happy with the Bullet. Like night and day. Someone at Ninja was listening. I’m no longer using the Vitamix – I’ve found the Ninja can do everything just as well, and I like the two containers it comes with – perfect sizes for small and large jobs and soooo easy to clean.

This is such a great recipe! My favorite thing is smoothies! I am an athlete so I make them daily in all sorts of different ways. I always make my almond and coconut milks they are never store bought do to the not so healthy ingredients in them. Thank you for sharing this one is on my “to make” list.

My husband has resisted my attempts to go veg/vegan. Recently, however, he was dx with gout and is currently on the downside of a huge flare up. I’ve seized the moment and am switching us to a veg diet (headed towards vegan). I’ve had your book for a few weeks and am delighted to share your recipes with him. This shake is going to be a staple in our new, healthier household.

I love this! I make this every morning and I have noticed I don’t have the morning ‘brain fog’ I used it. I sub the cocoa powder with cacao powder and skip the majooled dates, but it’s just sweet enough :)

This was DELICIOUS and healthy. The recipe is perfection. You can add 2 bananas to bulk it up. And I sometimes add a tbsp (or two) of peanut butter or almond butter and it is amazing. Btw, always measure level amounts of the hemp seeds and the cocoa powder since adding extra can make it bitter (done that!).

Ok, I never go back and leave comments, but this was freaking delicious. I used hemp milk instead and added cacao nibs and a bit of maca powder (which gave it a carmelly/nutty flavor). I never want to drink anything else. Thanks for the lovely pictures to make me remember to try this smoothie out!

I drank this all summer long! It was especially satisfying after a run! I love chocolate and this drink doesn’t disappoint. The one change I made was I included 1TB of chia seed and it seemed to be a bit thicker. Thanks Angela for another winner recipe!!

I just made this last night. It was really, really good. I think the best thing about this recipe is that it is very forgiving and would probably still taste good with a variety of substitutions and playing around. I used two cups of almond milk so it was pretty thin (the way I prefer), but I also do not have a high-speed blender. Using my plain on Kitchen Aid blender, I got quite a few date chunks left at the bottom, but it still was plenty sweet and tasty, with a nice consistency. I will be adding this to the rotation of things I use to get a sweet fix when I need one.

YUM!! I’ve been curious to try adding hemp seeds into my smoothies so this might be a good chance to. I’m definitely pinning this smoothie to my Best Smoothie pinterest board (A pinterest contest by Vega – you can win a Vitamix!!)

This smoothie is absolutely amazing, it has kept me going throughout my pregnancy.
It has also kept the ‘hangriness’ at bay, which my husband is thankful for. It looks and tastes like a dessert, but with the protein from the hulled hemp seeds and the fruit it’s surprisingly nutritious. Thank you so much for posting this recipe, I look forward to trying more recipes in your smoothie lineup.

I recently discovered your site while I was making the transition into going vegan. I really enjoy your site, and the recipes are to die for. I tried this chocolate hemp smoothie today for the first time, and it was amazing!! Even the kids loved it…which is hard to get kids on board with this lifestyle.

It was delicious on my first attempt. However, on my 2nd attempt, I added cinnamon ( which I dislike ) and it was super delicious. Yes this is definitely a wonderful smoothie. Thanks for sharing. Love your book Angela.

This recipe was delicious and very creamy for such a thin smoothie! Made it for myself with 1.5 cups almond milk + 1/4 cup quick oats to make it more of a meal. The cinnamon was a surprising twist that I grew to like after a few sips. Thanks Angela!

This was amazing! However, I’m pregnant right now and super sensitive to caffeine, so instead of the cocoa powder I just added some vanilla extract and it tasted just like a vanilla or chai latte! So yummy.

My mom bought hemp and didn’t know what to do with it, I came across this recipe and it’s sooo good. THANK YOU for this!! Me and my mom love this smoothie and make it regularly! Since making this, I have gone on a smoothie craze… This was actually the first recipe of yours that I tried :)